The Athletic: 2025 Bucs Have More Talent
June 1st, 2025
Better be better.
The past week or two for the Bucs, one senses a singular message or focus seeping from One Bucs Palace by way of player interviews with various outlets.
The Bucs are downright peeved they let the Commandos slip into The Licht House and race off with a wild card playoff win.
So if one is to believe the Bucs had their season ended in a disappointing manner, then that means those same folks ought to be outraged if the Bucs do not advance further this coming winter.
Gauging the 2024 Bucs and the 2025 Bucs, veteran NFL reporter Dan Pompei sees a better Bucs team, at least on paper. So anything less than a division title should be an outrage.
If the 2025 Bucs played the 2024 Bucs, the 2025 Bucs would win, assuming talent decided the game. The new Bucs are better equipped to affect quarterbacks because they have more pass rush and better coverage, thanks to additions such as Haason Reddick, David Walker, Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish. It isn’t difficult to envision a career year for Baker Mayfield, seeing he should benefit from a healthy Chris Godwin and rookie Emeka Egbuka. The unknown with the Bucs is how much, if at all, they will miss offensive coordinator Liam Coen. They need Josh Grizzard to push the right buttons as Coen’s replacement.
Yes, Josh Grizzard is very much an unknown. He could be fantastic. He could be awful. He could be just OK. Grizzard has a ton of pressure on him because his weapons are the envy of just about every team outside of Cincinnati.
But Pompei is right on the money when it comes to grading the roster. Who has more weapons than Baker Mayfield? Who has a deeper backfield and receiver room? Shoot, Sean Tucker is the Bucs’ No. 3 back and he might start for other teams.
Adding Haason Reddick? It’s possible the Jets’ version of Reddick may have been better than any edge rusher the Bucs had last year. Reddick started two games and had one sack. That stretches out to 8.5 sacks in 17 games.
Calijah Kancey had 7.5 sacks to lead the Bucs last year and he is a tackle.
And, the Bucs have depth at corner for a change. Bucs coach Todd Bowles has even said rookie Jacob Parrish could start around the league.
So yeah, the Bucs, on paper, are better than last year. It’s time to make a postseason run, boys.
June 1st, 2025 at 12:24 am
In the Redskin’s loss, Baker only had 18 passing attempts (completed…15?) because Bucs D couldn’t stop the Skins, they never punted ONCE. I don’t think that would happen again
June 1st, 2025 at 1:06 am
This is why media analysis drives me nuts. How hard is it to look at every team, what they lost and what they gained ?
The Bucs lost nothing and gained 8 players. They were a non botched possession away from the divisional round.
If healthier, this team is dangerous. It should not be this hard for people who get paid to talk ball, to connect the dots.
June 1st, 2025 at 1:08 am
Maybe. Probably. More talent for Todd to neuter by giving them 8 jobs each with 12 different assignments, each with three variants. Geniuses are who geniuses are.
June 1st, 2025 at 1:22 am
Griz the Unknown is the biggie. Liam did some good stuff, but also had several headscratchers for what we’d seen – him as an OC year 2 would’ve been really interesting, especially with the O-Line consistency.
It doesn’t feel like the second coming of Arroyo, but it’s also overly optimistic season for Bucs fans. Hopefully Mike McDaniels’s praise on Grizzard was legit. His solid work on 3rd down is some nice proof for promise.
Is there any insight into his creativity?
June 1st, 2025 at 1:51 am
Week 1 will be telling. BEAT ATLANTA!
June 1st, 2025 at 2:18 am
Please
Agreed. Optimism is great, but seems to be running in overdrive at the moment. Hopefully it will level off into reasonable soon.
Bucs have a lot of things to figure out.
June 1st, 2025 at 2:23 am
If we stay relatively healthy, this team should win 11-12 games in the regular season. Lotta good teams in the NFC, but I like to get to the Championship game at minimum. But really… it’s SB or bust baby. LFG
June 1st, 2025 at 3:59 am
Just watch, you’ll see….we know how…..the everyday fam who knows…..better realize
June 1st, 2025 at 6:01 am
“Who has more weapons than Baker Mayfield? Who has a deeper backfield and receiver room?”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
And who has a better O-line?
June 1st, 2025 at 6:33 am
“Maybe. Probably. More talent for Todd to neuter”
This begs the obvious question! Which HC got the Bucs to this position? Which HC has won a Division title every season he has coached for the Bucs?
Those are simple questions that demand FACTUAL answers? Not the OPINION of some keyboard warrior venting his frustrations.
It seems to me the major disagreement is not that some think Todd is perfect, yes he’s had some clock management errors as have many other HC’s some of them even great, people DO make mistakes, or that Todd is a defensive coach following a “no risk it no biscuit” offensive coach, we all love offense!
But the major area for disagreement must be in the assessment of TALENT. Some here must believe that Todd had cover corners who could actually play man without getting burnt repeatedly. Some must believe the abscence of Winfield to back up the corners didn’t really affect the team that much.
Perhaps they believe that the inability to replace JPP, Suh and Shaq and create a pass rush had nothing to do with Todd’s cobbled together solution.
If so I get ya. I simply disagree. Again I conclude with some FACTS not my OPINION. Todd Bowles is one of only FOUR HC’s in the Bucs history (13HCS) to have a WINNING RECORD. Does anybody wish to dispute that FACT. He’s the only coach to win 3 straight Division titles, a TITLE EVERY YEAR HE’S COACHED.
He’s improved his record all three years and moved ahead of Chucky into 3rd place for wins.
Did BA make mistakes? He made one huge blunder, believing that Fameis might be the answer. To his credit after that season ending pick six, BA got it.
Since his record has improved EVERY year he’s been here perhaps Bowles is getting it.
This year we’ll get to find out eh?
June 1st, 2025 at 6:37 am
offense will rock and ruin. will boil down to defense. we’ll see if bowles is a defensive genius like everyone says he is. 3 strikes and you’re out.
June 1st, 2025 at 6:37 am
I think Pompei, like most of these guys has not really taken a deep dive into our roster and he is much happier with our draft picks than this fan is. “new Bucs”?
“more pass rush and better coverage” Sorry but those areas are still huge question marks. Not at all sold on the Missing Link Reddick or anyone else. Two rookies who may get some snaps at corner?
LOL Almost prefer the old Bucs finish last BS . At least it seems to motivate our dudes. giving us buletin board material.
Go Bucs!
June 1st, 2025 at 7:20 am
Joe … ‘Yes, Josh Grizzard is very much an unknown. He could be fantastic. He could be awful. He could be just OK.’
Wow Joe, Grizz ‘could be awful’? I’ll grant that he’s an ‘unknown’ from the aspect that he’s never called plays before, but ‘could be awful’? I can’t remember you ever writing that about Canales or about Coen. Reality to me is that the only OC Bowles has had who’s been ‘awful’ has been Leftwich. And Todd didn’t exactly get to pick him. The previous 2 OCs Todd’s picked are both NFL head coaches now.
With this QB, this OLine & these weapons, Grizz might be ‘just OK’ for a few games, but once he settles in he’ll be ‘fantastic’. Have some faith.
June 1st, 2025 at 7:39 am
Defense will be better, but can the offense get better?
June 1st, 2025 at 7:53 am
D.R.
“the only OC Bowles has had who’s been ‘awful’ has been Leftwich.”
I do not disagree with this statement. I’m just curious as to how much blame you assign to Leftwich? How much goes to the GOAT?
Do we believe Tom Brady simply did what Leftwich ordered? Or could it have actually been more the other way around. Did a 7 times SB winner, acknowledged GOAT have more power than ANYBODY in the building including Todd perhaps, but surely Leftwich?
IMHO BA was the only guy with that huge personality, a guy who had made his bones, who truly had control over the best to ever play his position.
June 1st, 2025 at 8:05 am
Our roster is solid.
Baker Mayfield needs to do a better job of protecting the football…
He led the NFL in both interceptions (16) and fumbles (13) – 29 turnovers is way too many.
Plus he was ranked #5 in passes batted down at the LOS.
We lost too many close games last year and those 29 turnovers were the main cause.
June 1st, 2025 at 8:09 am
All the excitement is for the offense. As others have pointed out – DR, StPete – the talent on DEFENSE hasn’t been there the last couple years but we’ve still won the division. And made almost every game close, including playoff loses that ended our season the last two years. Until we can develop the talent on D we’ll be a good but not great team. That’s why this fan was disappointed we didn’t use our RD1 pick for a defensive stud. I’m sure EE will be great, but if the unproven players on D turn out to not be great, no crying about defensive scheme.
June 1st, 2025 at 8:17 am
Marine Buc. You’re not very bright are you?
June 1st, 2025 at 8:29 am
LOL!
Right – let’s all pretend that 29 turnovers don’t matter.
Did you watch our playoff loss?
Fumbled at our own 8 yard line.
Game over.
June 1st, 2025 at 8:36 am
Marine Buc. 29 turnovers? You are not very bright. How many times do I have to repeat myself?
June 1st, 2025 at 8:46 am
Kenton
As a fellow Vet I respect Marine Buc. Having said that I served in the Army, a son in the Navy, a cousin in the Air Force and they could all tell you there is a reason we call them “Jarheads”. He might suggest it’s because we envy them.
Whatever Marine Buc Semper Fi without any snark.
June 1st, 2025 at 8:55 am
“In the 2024 NFL season, Baker Mayfield had 18 turnovers, according to StatMuse. He tied with Kirk Cousins and Will Levis for the most turnovers by a quarterback in the league that year. ”
Still too many turnovers.
I had to look it up again. But Baker did lead the NFL with both fumbles and INTs…
Most of those fumbles were recovered by our offense (except of course the fumble that lost the Washington game).
June 1st, 2025 at 8:58 am
st.petebucsfan – that was a terrible argument. there are arguments for Bowles being a good or very good coach, but none of those move the needle. bucs history? please. i’m surprised there are four. his record with tampa? dude has has ready-made experienced rosters while many coaches have to build. divisional titles is cool stat but it means less in our situation than it ever has in NFL history. he personally prevented a really good team from excelling last year by mishandling the defense all season. bucs fans were so incredibly frustrated by his inability to adjust last year, with good reason.
he’s respected, loved by his players, and gets people to work hard, so he’s a good coach. but he makes WAY more mistakes than other good coaches, through both passivity and insanity, while struggling to match up against more modern coaches. he almost always loses under the spotlight. he loses more games that he should have won than just about any coach i can think of.
i like him, but thank God his last few offensive coordinators were hits (for his sake too). i doubt he’d still be coaching this year, maybe never would have coached again, if Coen was slower to develop the offense or had an average set of weapons.
June 1st, 2025 at 8:58 am
stpetebucsfan, I served in the United States Army and feel absolutely no need to bring Marine Buc up to speed. My best buddy is a Marine. Was a Marine but he’ll tell you once a Marine always a Marine. And he’s bright.
June 1st, 2025 at 9:03 am
@ Kunton
Lighten up Francis….
I was only off by 11 turnovers.
HAHAHAHA!!!
June 1st, 2025 at 9:04 am
Hi St. Pete.
What’s up buddy.
June 1st, 2025 at 9:04 am
Marine Buc. “except of course the fumble that lost the Washington game”. That’s at least as inaccurate as the difference between 18 and 29 turnovers.
June 1st, 2025 at 9:09 am
The Redskins had the ball for over 35 minutes without a punt. And at crunch time moved through the D with ease.
Thr ‘Skins bled out the Buc D with a thousand cuts when it mattered most.
June 1st, 2025 at 9:10 am
So giving the ball back to Washington at our own 8 yard line was helpful?
OK.
June 1st, 2025 at 9:11 am
I’m not saying Baker is trash.
He has actually surpassed my expectations .
He just needs to reduce the turnovers. That’s all I am saying.
Leading the NFL in turnovers is not good.
June 1st, 2025 at 9:12 am
The only horrible defensive coordinator Todd has had is also his first one, like Byron. Only Todd fired Byron and kept the other guy.
June 1st, 2025 at 9:31 am
“Leading the NFL in turnovers is not good”. Now that is better Marine Buc!
June 1st, 2025 at 9:33 am
marine buc – while interceptions suck, Mayfield’s 16 came on 117 more passes than Cousins threw. Geno Smith, who had almost identical stats to Mayfield’s (except Baker’s 20 additional TDs ahem), threw 15 and took 10 more sacks than Baker. The guys tied for fourth place in INTs are none other than Goff, Darnold, Purdy, Nix, and Stroud. All attempted fewer passes. Of that group, only Goff had a higher completion percentage. Additionally, our anemic offense forced Baker to carry the entire team.
whether Mayfield is a star or simply very good depends on whether you thing QBR (created by espn) is a definitive stat. only Goff, Lamar and Burrow had better passer ratings, while QBR says Kyler Murray is better than Jalen Hurts, 2024 Darnold, Stafford, Baker, and Tua, while ranking just a fraction behind – you guessed it – Patrick Mahomes.
Long live Baker, and screw ESPN. Loving this guy. Blame anybody else you want, but not Baker.
June 1st, 2025 at 9:53 am
Baker Mayfield led the NFL with 8 fumble recoveries last year. Geno Smith 6, Lamar Jackson 5.
June 1st, 2025 at 9:57 am
Jeff Beck
I like his music so I shortened your name. Cmon now!
“dude has has ready-made experienced rosters while many coaches have to build.”
Dude had a depleted roster BEFORE the injuries even struck. Winfield going down was the coup de grace.
AGAIN…who replaced Suh, JPP, Shaq, and DW45 when he was playing lights out? How was Jason supposed to rebuild after a SB win and all the retirements and an overloaded cap after paying all the mercenaries like Brady/Gronk/playoff Lennie…I could go on but seriously…saying the roster was ready to roll is just not true.
So if you believe the “talent level” was anywhere near the SB team I want to hit the bowl your using. Hopefully you share. The “talent level” was not picked by any of the “experts” before the season to win the Division.
With all due respect I’m not sure where you dug up… “ready-made experienced rosters” In fact while I think…if healthy this years roster should be ready it’s still FAR from experience on defense. Offense is a different story but everybody is justifiably upset with the defensive performance. Hopefully the addition of a couple of strong FA’s…Riddick..and a solid draft for the defensive backfield the D will be ready despite all the youth.
IMHO Winfield is the straw that stirs the drink. He became the highest paid Safety in the league for a reason. When healthy he not only has great instincts, covers a lot of field, he’s a true game changer. IF he’s healthy I’m optimisitic.
June 1st, 2025 at 10:01 am
The key to success is making ‘in game adjustments’. Has the coaching staff ‘D/C’ learned from their failures? We will find out.
June 1st, 2025 at 10:41 am
Baker is an excellent quarterback. He is one of the reasons for our success. If he is to be mentioned as an elite quarterback he probably needs to cut the turnovers in half. The reason we lose the games we lose is our defense. Lack of pressure and lack of turnovers. Also, lack of three and outs. If we get that fixed we are a Super Bowl contender. Let’s hope. I can’t wait. Go Bucs!!!!
June 1st, 2025 at 10:57 am
Grizz designed and called our 3rd-down plays lay year and he/we were the best in the NFL.
So, he’s already handled 33% of the playcalling duties and absolutely excelled at it to the highest degree.
So, all he needs to do is prove himself with the other 67% percent of the plays (1st & 2nd down).
He’s NOT a total unknown as a playcaller in the NFL.
June 1st, 2025 at 11:00 am
*last year
Also, side note, but Tucker is the most-talented RB in the NFL in my opinion.
Based on his small sample size, he could start for a majority of teams and he could probably win the rushing with 250 carries based on his 6-8yd average per rush
June 1st, 2025 at 11:02 am
Tucker and Saquon Barkley are the 2 overall most-talented RB’s in the league in my view.
June 1st, 2025 at 11:02 am
Baker a better version of Jameis. Likes to extend plays — a gunslinger — prone to some turnovers.
In the end, I feel like we have a chance to win it all with Baker. After season 2 of Jameis, never felt that way.
June 1st, 2025 at 11:59 am
MRRR … ‘The reason we lose the games we lose is our defense. Lack of pressure and lack of turnovers. Also, lack of three and outs.’
Really? We’re pointing fingers now & accusing the Bucs’ defense of being the ONLY side to lose games? Seems like I remember our first loss last season being 26-7 to the Broncos. Our offense had 223 TOTAL yards of offense, went 3-for-13 on 3rd & 4th down conversions, made 2 turnovers that helped the Broncos’ cause, plus punted 4 times & went out on downs twice. But ya, let’s blame the defense because they didn’t hold the Broncos to 6 points.
I can think of several other games last where a mistake by the offense proved to be critical in the final outcome. Can also think of several times last season when our defense pooped their pants at the end of the game. Fact is that our offense did much better on the season than our defense did. IMO, they should have; our offense has better talent in most starting positions, they have MUCH better depth, and their injury situation (games missed) wasn’t nearly as devastating as the defense’s situation was. Thankfully this is a new season.
June 1st, 2025 at 12:21 pm
geno711 … ‘Baker a better version of Jameis. Likes to extend plays — a gunslinger — prone to some turnovers.’
Oh so true Geno. The only season that BOTH were full-season starters for their teams was 2019. BOTH were dealing with new OCs. Jameis led the league in INTs that year with a ghastly 30. Baker could only muster 21 INTs to rank SECOND in the NFL for most INTs.
Jameis’ record that year was 7-9; Baker’s was 6-10. Jameis completed 60.7% of his passes for 33 TDs; Baker completed 59.4% of his passes for 22 TDs. Ya, a few similarities.
June 1st, 2025 at 12:56 pm
st. pete – i knew i wouldn’t have to wait long hahaha 🙂
i see you only had a problem with one part of my posts, ‘ready made roster’. In 2022, starters were Evans Godwin Gage with donovan smith, luke goedeke, robert hainsey, shaq mason, tristan wirfs. Brady at QB with Fournette and R. White.
Gholston, Vea, Akiem Hicks with JTS, Devin White, Lavonte and Shaq Barrett. CBs Carlton Davis, SMB and Jamel Dean, with Winfield and Mike Edwards.
June 1st, 2025 at 1:02 pm
2023 bucs added Palmer, Mauch, Feiler, and Otton to top of depth chart and promoted White. Mayfield in for Brady (divorced Brady lol). Added Kancey, Gaines, and sadly replaced Edwards with Ryan Neal. kept gholston to back up and added YaYa too.
June 1st, 2025 at 1:10 pm
Defense Rules, good points all. It’s a team game for sure. Anybody watching the last few years could see that offense was our priority. After Brady you know Licht and Bowles learned you’ve gotta score more points than your opponents. Our defense hasn’t quit flying around playing hard but who could have seen the injuries last year? We already knew we would have to be prioritizing defense this year. But this whole team plays as one and has since I’ve been watching. Seems like every loss I’ve watched the last few years was on the offense and the defense. Either could have pulled it out making another play or two. And we’ve got some new guys quite capable of making a play or two. I’d say we’re gonna be a better football team this year than anyone is predicting. I’ve watched a handful of really good football teams in my day. This young team looks like one of those teams. Better enjoy it while we can.
June 1st, 2025 at 1:13 pm
The last 2 seasons, Bucs lost in the playoffs because of the way they competed in pressure situations.
Talent alone won’t win a Super Bowl.
The players need to be held accountable during pre season preparation as to how they compete under pressure.
June 1st, 2025 at 1:47 pm
Alanbucsfan the last 2 seasons the team lost very close games to very good teams in the playoffs. I think the pressure situation chokes you’re talking about is the year before Baker got here. When the Cowboys made Brady and the team look like they didn’t even enjoy the game. Is that what you’re talking about Alanbucsfan?
June 1st, 2025 at 1:52 pm
Reddick started two games and had one sack. That stretches out to 8.5 sacks in 17 games.
Hassan Reddick played 393 defensive snaps last year and generated 2 half sacks…your comment is deceptive. and disingenuous.
June 1st, 2025 at 1:53 pm
Kenton Smith
I’m referring to 4th quarter turnovers and a botched opportunity 2nd and 1 at the opponents’ 20 yard line settling for a tying fg instead of taking the lead.
June 1st, 2025 at 1:56 pm
Brady’s first year here Alanbucsfan he chucked 3 interceptions in the first half of the wildcard game. Is that how we need to handle the pressure? Bowles defense and Brady’s offense played together as a team. Teams win games. Our team is becoming a battle tested playoff team. Wouldn’t be there if they couldn’t handle press.
June 1st, 2025 at 2:06 pm
Kenton Smith
This Bucs team, with Mayfield at QB, to me could use some mental preparation and toughness in pressure situations with the playoff game on the line to come away with wins.
June 1st, 2025 at 2:30 pm
@Jeff Beck
Yes the ONLY problem I had with your post is the take on talent level.
It’s probably the problem I have with most of the Bowles hate here. Some like you believe he had enough talent. I find that a bit unbelievable especially when Winfield virtually missed the entire season, either out or too injured to perform up to his normal capability.
So last year alone Winfield, highest paid safety in the league and a player that can help erase mistakes…DW45 who played with his hair on fire during the SB run and could have filled that gaping hole in the middle..the rush of JPP and Shaq with Suh as well. I simply do not see anywhere near the same talent.
June 1st, 2025 at 2:54 pm
🔥🔥 Bowles now!
McCarthy could step right in and have this team in the NFC title game.
And if we get rid of the inept DC currently stinking up the place.
Numbers don’t lie.
June 1st, 2025 at 3:09 pm
st. pete – good times and big fun. absolutely injury issues, worst maybe Jensen imo… crushed us on multiple levels. the cap issue was real too, Licht was a miracle worker to put those teams together and remain competitive.
June 1st, 2025 at 3:21 pm
StPete … ‘Do we believe Tom Brady simply did what Leftwich ordered?’
I admit having no clue how their relationship played out in terms of game-planning and game-execution. For all I know St Pete, Lefty may have planned & called every game perfectly and TB12 may have changed every play at the LOS.
What jumps out at me is the changes in team performance that occurred during each of Lefty’s 4 years here as OC.
o 2019: Bucs went 7-9 (missed the playoffs). Jameis & the offense put up 458 points that season, although 6 TDs (42 points) were scored by our defense. Offense ranked #3, but their output included 30 INTs & 11 fumbles lost.
o 2020: Bucs went 11-5 (and won the Super Bowl as a Wildcard). Brady & the offense put up 492 points, including 1 TD scored by our defense. Offense ranked #3 again that year, and the turnovers dropped a bunch (to 12 INTs & 5 fumbles lost).
o 2021: Bucs improved to 13-4 (lost a heart-breaker to the Rams in the 2nd playoff game). Brady & the offense put up 511 points, including 2 TDs by the defense. Offense improved to #2 ranking that year, and the turnovers stayed about the same (12 INTs & 7 fumbles lost).
o 2022: Bucs fell to 8-9 on the season under new coach Todd Bowles (lost the 1st playoff game to the Cowboys). Brady & the offense scored only 313 points, including 1 TD by the defense. Offense ranking fell to #25 (scored almost 200 LESS points over 17 games than in previous season). Lots of reasons to be sure, but end result was that Brady departed … and so did Leftwich.
Brady gets a lot of credit for changing the ‘culture’ here, as he should IMO, but he had a supporting cast on offense that most QBs would’ve given their right gnut for. And in his 2 winning years, the Bucs also had the #8 and #5 ranked defense to go along with the offense ranked in the Top-5. My personal belief is that BA stayed involved to some degree offensively (and that helped Lefty), whereas Todd Bowles was essentially hands-off the offense in 2022.
June 1st, 2025 at 4:52 pm
I suspect Brady internally rolled his eyes a lot dealing with Flat Brim.
Brady did well because he’s Tom Freakin’ Brady *despite* Byron Leftwich.